Leopard attack: MLA assures chain-link fencing for Aarey homes soon

MLA Ravindra Waikar seen with the victim’s father Akhilesh Lot on Saturday

Barely five days after a 16-month-old girl, Etika Lot, was mauled to death by a leopard in Aarey, the Forest Department handed over a compensation cheque of R10 lakh to her family. MLA Ravindra Waikar, who was present at Aarey, also instructed the forest department to speed up the process to capture the leopard, and said that they would consider fencing homes in the area.

The MLA, along with Range Forest Officer Rakesh Bhoir, from the Mumbai Range of Thane Forest Department (Territorial), and Round Officer Narayan Mane visited the deceased's parents, Akhilesh and Bharti Lot, on Saturday, and handed over a cheque of Rs 10 lakh to them. Another Rs 10 lakh will be deposited in Akhilesh's bank account as Fixed Deposit.

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"What happened was unfortunate and instructions have been given to the forest department officials to capture the suspected leopard behind the attacks as soon as possible," Waikar said. He also assured residents that he'd talk to the officers concerned regarding erecting chain-link fencing surrounding the houses, provided that locals give in writing that they'd not encroach on the area within the fencing.

Close to 30 camera traps are active in Aarey Milk Colony, but no image of the leopard has been captured at the camera trap locations as yet. Since the day of attack, many videos of leopards from Aarey Milk Colony and Film City are going viral on social media, including WhatsApp and Facebook. Forest department officials are in the process of verifying the same. Night and day patrolling, and multiple awareness sessions are also being conducted in several units and tribal hamlets of Aarey Milk Colony.

Rs 20L
Total compensation to family